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Do you pay attention to the washing requirements of individual garments, or just throw everything in the machine together and hope for the best?

It’s easy to go for the latter, especially when clothes tags have so many confusing symbols on them.

If you’ve ever wondered what they all mean, you’re in the right place.

Read on for a guide on what all those clothes washing symbols mean.

Understanding Clothes Washing Symbols

Washing

Washing symbols are the ones that look like buckets filled with water.

They use dots and lines to show exactly how garments should be washed.

The number of dots in the center of the symbol indicates the temperature of the wash you should use. If there’s only one, use a cold wash. If there are two dots, use a warm one. Three dots mean you should use a hot wash.

Look at the bottom of the symbol for any lines.

If there’s one line underneath, it means you should use the permanent press cycle setting. This is most commonly used for synthetic fabrics. In this type of cycle, clothes are washed in warm water and rinsed with cold water on a slow spin. This helps to reduce the formation of wrinkles.

Two lines mean you should use a gentle cycle. This is usually seen on woolen garments.

Not all washing symbols use dots and lines. You might see one that looks like a bucket of water with a hand in it. This means a garment is not suitable for machine washing, and should be washed by hand only.

Drying

Square symbols tell you how to dry your clothes.

If there’s a circle inside the square, it’s suitable for machine drying. However, there’s more to it than that.

If the circle is black, don’t use any heat at all. If it’s white with one dot or more inside, you can use heat. One dot for low, two for medium, and three for high.

As with the washing symbols, lines underneath the square indicate the type of cycle you should use.

If a drying symbol has just a horizontal line inside, the garment should be dried flat. Vertical lines mean it’s suitable for drip drying.

Ironing

Ironing symbols are simple.

They consist of a little iron outline with dots inside to indicate the appropriate temperature. Or, they have an ‘x’ to show that you shouldn’t use steam, or indeed any ironing at all.

Follow these symbols and use the best iron, and your clothes will stay looking great for longer.

Dry Cleaning

If your garment tag has a blank circle on it, it’s appropriate for dry cleaning only.

This means you shouldn’t attempt to wash it yourself.

If you’re looking for fur coat cleaning, leather cleaning, or anything particularly delicate, seek out a professional cleaning service.

Maintain Your Machine

Following the instructions on clothes washing symbols isn’t all you need to do. If your washing machine isn’t working as well as it should be, it won’t wash your clothes properly.

While it may have gotten off to a shaky start, some estimates say the market will pull in $108 billion by 2021.

Plus, companies like YouTube and Google are now jumping in on the trend. This makes it a great reason to see what it can do for your real estate business.

VR has the power to change the world of real estate. Keep reading to find out why, and to get an update on the latest VR real estate trends.

Why VR is Changing Real Estate

VR is a business-changing trend in more sectors than just real estate. It has the capability of shaking up almost every industry.

For real estate, the implications are especially huge.

This is because it removes the location-related problems you face every day. VR has the power to make the wide world of real estate a little smaller—and easier to manage.

The Latest VR Real Estate Trends

Conducting Walk-Throughs Long-Distance

The possibility of long-distance walk-throughs is perhaps the most exciting VR real estate trend.

Thanks to this immersive technology, you can walk prospective buyers through a home even if they’re located thousands of miles away.

That means no more rushed scouting trips for stressed-out buyers trying to plan their move. You get more time to find them the perfect property, and they get a better buying experience.

That’s just one way to close more deals through VR.

Using Headsets to Fill a Space

Some buyers are just not that gifted when it comes to imagining the potential of a space.

All it takes is a mismatched paint color or outdated flooring to turn them off to an otherwise perfect property.

That’s where VR comes in. Just pop on a headset and switch out the features your buyers don’t like. That way, buyers can really picture themselves in the home and not get distracted by bad wallpaper or an outdated light fixture.

This can be especially helpful for large commercial properties. An empty floor may not look like much at first. However, if you can use VR to fill it with a contemporary open office layout, it may make the difference in your sale.

Embracing Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is another fun outgrowth of VR technology.

This type of tech overlays extra details or more information for viewers, usually through the use of an app. That’s great news if you’re reluctant to purchase VR equipment for your company.

Instead, your buyers could have instant access to stats like appliance age, property tax history, and any recent repairs.

They can do it all through an app on their phones. You could even embed a QR code on your for sale signs that gives passersby a virtual one-sheet—instantly.

Connecting with Customers Online

Maintaining a healthy online presence goes hand-in-hand with embracing VR. If your buyers can virtually view a property online, they should also be able to take the next steps in the transaction in an online environment.

This is especially true for rental companies. For example, thanks to an up-to-date website, no matter where you are in the world, making a down payment or booking rentals in Whistler is easy.

Stay Up to Date on Everything Tech

At Pligg, we offer insights, courses, and deals for everything new in the tech world.

Whether you’re trying to watch Notre Dame from the 50-yard line or watch the Bulls from the floor, you’re going to be shelling out a pretty penny.

But that’s nothing compared to what fans paid for these:

1. 2010 NBA Finals

Basketball is already one of the most exciting sports around. Add the drama of the championship tournament in, and you are in for an adrenaline-filled, heart-pumping event to remember.

The 2010 championship between the Celtics and Lakers sold tickets for the price of a family home. You couldn’t even sit in the nosebleeds without forking over almost $58,000. Wanna sit courtside? Those tickets sold for over $115,000.

2. Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez

It’s also one of the most expensive—it’s not unusual for high-profile boxing matches to be star-studded affairs.

And with the price of tickets, it might be because you’d need to be a wealthy celebrity just to get in.

Especially when you’re watching someone as popular and controversial as Floyd Mayweather.

Ringside tickets to his match against Canelo Alvarez sold for over $30,000.

3. 2013 Masters

A lot of people find golf to be a dull game. But nevertheless, golf fans shell out serious change for sports tickets to the Masters Tournament.

Tickets to the 2013 tournament cost as much as $4,486.

4. 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony

There’s nothing like the Olympics. 205 nations competed in the London games, and they had the fans to match.

And the most memorable part of any Olympiad is the opening ceremony, complete with the Parade of Nations and an unforgettable show from the host country.

It’s a can’t-miss event, and the ticket prices reflect the steep demand. A single ticket to the opening ceremony cost $4000 online.

5. 2014 FIFA World Cup Final

Nothing brings the world together like football. Not American Football—soccer.

Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, so it’s no wonder that the FIFA World Cup is one of the most popular tournaments in the world.

But to see the final match between Germany and Argentina, fans had to pay $990 a piece. Those hardcore fütbol maniacs paid triple that—$3,350—for front row seats.

6. New York Yankees Legend Suite

The Yankees are one of the most beloved (and most hated, depending on where you live) franchises in sports history.

During the regular season, Yankees tickets sell for an average of $101 per ticket. That’s a lot for sports tickets, but if you really want the best experience, you’re going to need to watch the game from a fancier vantage point.

Box seats in the Legend Suite sell for $2,500 a piece.

7. Super Bowl XLIX

Everyone loves the Super Bowl! Even the commercials are a national event.

But if you want to watch the game live, it’s going to cost a small fortune.

The 2015 game had an average ticket price of $5,622.50. But that’s a small price to pay to see Katy Perry dance with some sharks.

Can’t Afford Sports Tickets?

For some of us, getting enough money for sports tickets seems like trouble enough, let alone spending what we could otherwise spend on a new car.

But that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying sports. Grill up some burgers, crack open some cold ones and watch the game from your living room.

Maybe you’ve read it in a magazine or you’ve heard a story from a friend: vape batteries are dangerous, and they can cause serious injury.

It’s certainly true that people have suffered injuries from vape batteries. But, these batteries are no more or less dangerous than the batteries you use in your cell phone or in your TV remote.

In order to avoid injury, you just need to make sure you’re implementing the right safety precautions.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 safety tips for using a vape battery.

Safety Tip #1: Buy Quality Products

This should go without saying, but too many people think they’re being “smart and savvy” by buying cheap vape products.

Quality vape products will cost more upfront, but they’ll last longer and therefore save you more money in the long run.

Your first purchase should be a quality vape. Cheaply made vapes have a much higher risk of explosion. Make sure the vape you select isn’t just one that looks nice. It should have good reviews and be known for its durability.

The same goes for battery purchases: only buy quality batteries from trusted brands. Even the best e cigarette will not be able to withstand a crappy battery.

You should also buy a quality smart charger. Smart chargers come with extra safety features that regular chargers don’t have. These extra safety features will help prevent you from overcharging or discharging.

Safety Tip #2: Battery Cases

You’re planning on vaping outside your home, so you quickly chuck your batteries into your purse or your pocket without a second thought.

Because it creates a circuit. And circuits start fires. Putting out a fire in your pants is probably not how you want your day to go.

Luckily, solving this problem is easy. You just need to put your batteries in a battery case. There are all sorts of battery cases sold at vape stores, so getting your hands on one should not be a problem.

Safety Tip #3: Be Aware When Charging

Most of us don’t give a second thought when we plug in an electronic device into its charging port.

However, you should always keep an eye on your vape while charging it. And make sure you’re not:

Safety Tip #4: Never Use Damaged Batteries

It’s understandable that you want to get the most out of your batteries.

However, using damaged batteries will never end well. If your batteries are frayed, fail to keep a charge, or have some other exposed fault, you need to safely dispose of them immediately.

Safety Tip #5: Don’t Mix and Match Cords and Wall Pieces

Ever forgotten your charger at home and had to borrow a friend’s instead?

Normally it never causes any issues, right?

Although this may be fine with a phone, you shouldn’t do this with your vape batteries. iPhone wall pieces can easily overcharge your battery and cause it to burst. So make sure you only charge with your own equipment.

Vape Battery Safety: Wrap Up

We hope these safety tips come in handy the next time you’re handling your vape battery.

If you have any questions about these tips, please don’t hesitate to drop a comment below!

In order for your website to compete with other online businesses, you need to have a sophisticated graphic design scheme.

But achieving that isn’t as easy as you might think.

People go to school for years to learn effective graphic design techniques. If that isn’t a possibility for you, how can you keep up with them?

Downloading an easy graphic design software can solve this problem. With easy graphic design software, most of the hard work is done for you.

In this post, we’ll show you how you can find and download an easy graphic design software solution for your company.

Identify Your Needs

Figure out exactly what you need in a software. The more features a software has, the more complicated it will likely be. It’s important to be sure of what you want so you are not intimidated by the software you choose. Plus, there’s no point in paying for features you’re never going to use.

Ask yourself what kind of business you run, and what kind of business do you want to be?

If you want your web design to be cutting-edge, you need software that helps you translate your vision.

If your target market doesn’t call for complex design techniques, you may be fine with simple software.

You should also consider the length of time you want to devote to graphic design matters. Will your design project be a one-time thing? Or, will you have a consistent need for design work?

If your design projects are mostly ongoing, you should think about hiring a dedicated designer. Look for someone who knows the ins and outs of complicated software. The right software for you is out there. It just takes a little digging.

Easy Graphic Design Software Can Be Free

The best thing about graphic design software is that it is possible to find high-quality versions for free. Even the most professional software packages often have free trials that allow you to use the software for a limited time.

This is important because it gives you the chance to try out a few different graphic design software options without making a substantial financial commitment. If it isn’t working for your company, you can just delete it.

But if you’ve done your research and you know what you want, don’t be afraid to take the leap. Even the most complicated graphic design software can be conquered if you take some time to learn how it works.

Download It!

The final step in the process is to download your graphic design software. First, figure out if the software you are downloading is compatible with your Mac or your PC, depending on what you’re using.

Then, follow the instructions to save the files and install the graphic design software. Now, your software is ready to be explored and tinkered with.

Trends in graphic design are always changing. So, it’s important that you have the software that enables your website to stay relevant.

Looking to learn more about kratom powders and extracts? Maybe you’re wondering how to use kratom, or you’re looking to learn where you can find high quality kratom.

As an educated consumer, there are lots of places you can do your research. There are many books written on the subject, and it seems another one is released every week or so.

To help you with your research, we’ve compiled a list of 5-must read books that will teach you how to use kratom, and so much more.

Your homework starts here.

Kratom 2nd Edition: Everything You Need To Know To Harness The Power of This Potent Plant

You can download this book at Amazon right now. It provides you with a good, 38-page dive into the subject at a good price point of $9.50, although it’s currently on sale for $4.00. So if you’re ready, you will want to act now.

It’s written by the good people at Get Ahead, who have written other helpful books such as:

Phenibut: Your Ultimate Guide To Unlocking Your Social Side & More With This Powerful Pill

Kava: The Most Effective Natural Supplement For Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Piracetam: What is Piracetam, Its Uses, Benefits and Best Dosages

As you can see, they’re in the wellness business.

Kratom: The Truth About Mitragyna Speciosa: An Introductory Guide to Capsules, Powder, Extract, and the Full Effects

If you prefer the iPhone or iPad to the Kindle, this book is your best bet. You can download it here.

It was written by Colin Willis, who has also written such books as “Smart Drugs: The Truth About Nootropics.”

Kratom: Kratom for Beginners: Beginners Guide to Understanding Kratom

If you prefer to go the audiobook route, you can pick this up from Audible right now.

It’s a quick and digestible 33 minutes. It’s also a very affordable $3.95, or it can be free if this is your first Audible download. You get one free book when you sign up.

It was written by author Micheal Kratom, who has also published:

How to Analyze People: Human Psychology, Read People, Analyzing People

How to Read Minds, Body Language

Kratom: The Bible – From the Heavens: Quitting Pain Pills & Opiates with this Divine Leaf!

Reiki for Beginners: Reiki Step by Step Guide, The Definitive Guide

Using Kratom for Chronic Pain and Restless Legs Syndrome

Did you know that one in ten adult Americans suffer from Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease? It costs us countless hours of sleep, every single night, but kratom has been shown to help.

The transition from snail mail to email in the 21st-century life became a fantastic opportunity for people to chat in a near-instantaneous platform.

Stamps are quickly becoming obsolete. The opportunity to communicate immediately via email has become the norm, and keeping up with friends and family in different cities and states have become easier than ever.

All of these exciting digital changes have been made possible by the advent of email.

However, nowadays email has become such a standard practice that it’s easy to forget the importance of personal data protection.

Practicing law is not for the faint of heart. The law isn’t perfect, so anyone who aspires to become a lawyer should be prepared to be let down by the justice system on occasion.

Those future letdowns will certainly be a lot easier if future law students prime themselves for them. And what better way to prime themselves than by reading a few law eBooks that will put them in the right state of mind?

From fiction to instruction texts, here are five eBooks that aspiring law students might want to check out:

1. 1984 by George Orwell

George Orwell’s 1984 is considered to be one of the most influential pieces of fiction ever written. Because of its subject matter, it is a must-read for future lawyers.

The novel is a dystopian one in which a sort of totalitarian government has trampled on the rights of its citizens. There is no real sense of privacy, and that lack of privacy is one of the book’s overarching themes.

The novel should make future lawyers think about what the scope of the law should be so that they may challenge conventions in the future.

2. Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Dickens, like Orwell, has at least one popular classic novel under his belt, and Bleak House is one of them. The conflict which lies at the center of the novel is a case which involves multiple conflicting wills.

Dickens uses the novel to satirize the then English judicial system, and the takeaway for aspiring lawyers might just be that the process is ineffective sometimes.

3. Letters to a Law Student by Nicholas McBride

Unlike a couple of the law eBooks on this list, Letters to a Law Student is not a work of fiction. It’s an instructional text that aims to help future law students prepare themselves for law school.

Well, at least for their first year of law school. They’re on their own after that, but McBride’s text is still a good one to add to a collection of law-related texts on an E-reader.

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

How does an attorney measure success? Does he or she take pride in using a sophisticated custom domain (e.g. johnplaw.com, desalvolaw.com, etc.)?

Or perhaps an attorney measures success by how many cases he or she has won.

The fact of the matter is gauging success in this way is not advisable. As Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird can teach any lawyer, future or present, justice isn’t always done, which means that even good attorneys don’t always win cases for their innocent clients.

5. What About Law? by Catherine Barnard, et al

Similar to Letters to a Law Student, What About Law? is all about…well, law. The book is for teens who are considering going into law in the future.

Its primary purpose is to give its readers some idea of what practicing law entails so that they can decide whether or not it’s something that they want to do for the rest of their lives. For those who are hesitant about going into law, this one is definitely a necessity.

Download These Law eBooks Today

Well, there they are. Five law-related eBooks that should get any aspiring attorney thinking about his or her future in law. After reading some these books, things might look a bit bleak, but attorneys will have good days and bad days.

But the good days will always make the profession worth it.

So if you’re not too spooked, go ahead and start thinking about the future. You can sift through our humble selection of law ebooks in our marketplace.

Accidents happen so fast, but in that moment, lives may be changed. Severe injuries can affect your ability to work and provide for yourself.

The demand for personal injury lawyers is growing – because an accident attorney can help you receive the compensation you’re due.

Here are 5 reasons why you need to hire an accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

1. A Good Accident Attorney Will Take Care of Everything

You need to focus on recovery, and having a good attorney is essential for that. You don’t have the time to research and file your case all by yourself.

Simply put, while you’re getting better, you don’t want to be stressing about a legal case.

A good accident attorney such as Stephen Babcock will take control of everything your case involves, so you can relax, knowing you’re well represented and your case is progressing smoothly.

2. Lawyers Will Investigate on Your Behalf

Lawyers will build your case from the ground up. They will collect witness statements for you, identify the cause of the accident and put together a strong collection of evidence which will back up your case.

They use a team of expert investigators to do this, who will make sure every aspect of the case is as well-researched and watertight as it can be.

3. You’re (Probably) Not an Expert Negotiator

Around 95% of personal injury cases are settled before they come in front of a judge. Settling a case involves negotiating with other parties involved in the accident, who may be counter-suing you at the same time your case is ongoing.

This can get very sticky, very quickly. For someone without experience, it can be very difficult to hold your own against aggressive lawyers representing the other side of the case.

Lawyers are trained negotiators, who will not bend to pressure and fight your corner every step of the way. They won’t give in to the other side’s demands and will get much better results than someone who lacks experience.

4. An Expert Will Avoid Common Errors

The legal system is notoriously complicated. There are complex procedures to follow, filing deadlines to meet, and many other difficulties.

Plus, you have to consider both state and federal law to fully understand how your case will be handled. A lack of understanding of the law could see your case thrown out of the court systems – wasting lots of time and money.

An experienced attorney will guide your case through these problems with ease.

5. Legal Strategy is Everything

Having a good legal strategy before heading to court or negotiation means that you have a strong hand.

Knowing exactly what to do and say in court, and how to respond to the other side’s arguments are an attorney’s specialties.

Picking Your Lawyer

Before you choose a lawyer, test your accident attorney’s knowledge with these 5 important questions before handing over your case.

We hope that this guide helps you find the right lawyer for you, and we wish you the best of luck with your compensation claim.

Does the idea of making extra money while you’re at home in your pajamas sound like the dream?

If you’re one of the six million Americans who would prefer to work full-time, then it could be the easiest way to supplement your income.

Check out our top five ways to earn cash online:

1. Enter Competitions

If you’ve got a knack for thinking up catchy phrases, entering competitions could be an ideal way for you to make some extra bucks.

Some competitions can be simpler than others. You may have to think of a new company name or create a campaign slogan. There are even opportunities to submit ideas and messages for greetings cards if you’re feeling particularly creative.

And, you can also win cash or products by sharing how you’d use certain items, or what certain brands mean to you.

2. Online Betting and Games

If you’re a big sports fan or know your way round a roulette wheel, then you can use these skills and knowledge to earn extra cash online.

With the right odds and good tips, betting on sporting competitions like baseball games or golf tournaments can offer big pay-outs. Just remember to bet with your head and not your heart.

If online casinos are more your style then there are plenty to choose from. And for bingo fans, playing online with the big tease can generate some serious extra cash if your luck’s in.

3. Selling Online

If you’re a hoarder then a great way to make money online is by selling your old stuff.

Of course, you can sell just about anything on eBay. But there are many other sites devoted to helping you sell specific items, such as books, CDs, and clothes.

Some sites do a lot of the work for you, but they also take more commission. Do your research to find out which site suits your preferences.

If you have to list items yourself then make sure to disclose any faults and include good quality photos.

If you’re selling clothes then take photos of you wearing them. Styling items up with accessories and a plain background will increase sales.

And, if you have a really great eye for fashion then you might even consider buying items for resale. Influential fashion blogger Rumi Neely got started by selling vintage thrift store finds on eBay.

4. Blogging and Vlogging

While we’re on the subject of bloggers, building a blog can be another way to make cash online. And, if you work hard at it then you can even turn it into a full-time career.

However, it’s probably the most labor-intensive way to make money online. In fact, it could be years before you have enough readers to attract sponsored posts, affiliate links and advertising.

This is why it’s crucial that you are passionate about your blog and the topics you plan to write about.

Not much of a writer? You could always start uploading videos to YouTube and make money from advertising. Your videos can be about anything, from makeup tutorials to comedy sketches – just use your imagination!

5. Online Surveys and Opinion Polls

Polls and surveys can vary in length and generally pay accordingly but expect to earn between $1 and $5 for most surveys.

Some will pay in points, which you can then redeem for vouchers, or some will deposit cash in your PayPal account.

Are you ready to Earn Spare Cash Online?

Here you have five great ways to make some extra money online. Depending on your availability and skills you might find some of these ways more appealing than others.

But, whichever you choose, having a PayPal account already set up will make receiving money a lot easier.

Also, you’re likely to receive a lot of spam, so remember to keep track of all the sites you’ve registered with. You don’t want to accidentally delete a genuine notification about a cash bonus or a competition you’ve won!

And don’t forget to check out our other blog posts for inspiration on how to make yourself some extra money online.

Every week we see more companies making it into the headlines due to embarrassing security breaches.

Just recently, the phone numbers and pin codes of 6 million Verizon users were left online for a little over a week. Other large companies such as Chipotle, Arby’s, and Sak’s Fifth Avenue have all dealt with major security breaches in the past year.

What’s especially terrifying is that unlike large companies, who have the money and resources to recover from security breaches, small businesses are often forced to close down because of these breaches.

In fact, small businesses shell out an average of $38,000 to recover from a single security breach. As you can imagine, this is a lot of money for a small business to fork over. As a result, 72 percent of businesses end up shutting down 24 months after a data breach.

So, how are you supposed to protect your business from getting hacked?

While there is nothing you can do to guarantee safety, securing your IT cloud solutions is one way to decrease your chances of getting hacked. The cloud offers some huge advantages, but it can be a security nightmare if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Keep reading to learn more about how you can secure your IT cloud solutions.

1. Devise Difficult to Guess Passwords

Most professionals know better than to use “1234” or “password” or a similarly obvious sequence to encrypt their accounts. But, the best passwords go a step beyond just avoiding the obvious.

Your password should contain upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special symbols. It should also be at least 10 characters long.

2. Know Who’s Accessing What

Staff members and third-party vendors should only have access to the data they need in order to perform their jobs.

Privileged users such as employees with access to highly valuable information and data administrators, should receive training on securely handling cloud archive systems and data and should be put under a higher level of scrutiny.

3. Back Up Sensitive Files

Syncing and file sharing is too often used as a replacement for external devices. But, in the event of a security breach, these files could easily be lost.

Therefore, all sensitive files should be backed up both physically and virtually. This is the only way to guarantee your firm will have access to their data in the event of a hack or a crash.

4. Separate Business and Personal Data

Many companies implement a bring your own device to work policy, and that’s totally fine.

However, you want to make sure you clearly communicate to your employees what kind of information can and cannot be stored on their personal devices. If they are allowed to store sensitive business information on their personal devices, you need to make sure they are following the appropriate encryption codes.

5. Keep Extremely Sensitive Information Out of the Cloud

Even if you follow the strictest protocol, there’s no guarantee that your cloud storage location is completely fail-proof.

So until cloud providers can guarantee the same level of security as internal business serves, it’s best to store your extremely sensitive information elsewhere.

IT Cloud Solutions: Wrap Up

Remember, no business is completely immune to an attack. Hackers are continuing to develop more sophisticated ways to invade data storage.

Being proactive with your Cloud security measures is the best way to ensure your data doesn’t get into the wrong hands. Please leave us a comment if you have any questions about the measures we suggested.

When it comes to selling your home, the first ten days are the most important. The longer that your home sits on the market, the less likely it is that it will sell without you having to drop your asking price.

The longer a home sits unsold, the more likely buyers are to wonder why it’s not selling. They will think there is something wrong with it that’s driving other buyers away.

That is why it’s so important to sell your home quickly. These tips will make sure you sell your home lightning fast!

1. Store that Clutter!

Buyers are way more likely to be interested in an uncluttered home. Shelves and tables overflowing with clutter make the rooms in your home feel smaller.

This also goes for extra furniture. While you may get good use out of the extra seating and end tables in your living room, too much furniture makes rooms feel cramped.

Consider putting some of your extra things into storage while you are showing your home.

2. Clean Homes Sell Faster

Your home should be spotless for every showing. Dirty floors or a moldy shower can actually lower the price that buyers are willing for your home.

A messy or dirty environment puts buyers in a bad mood and makes them think more negatively about your home.

3. Stage Your Home Inside and Out

Staging basically gives your home a makeover. You need to redecorate in a way that is appealing to buyers.

This can include repainting rooms in more neutral tones. You can buy cheap decorations such as flowers, fruit, and decorative soaps and towels for the bathrooms.

Staging your home’s outside is also important. Planters with bright flowers, a well-mown lawn, and good outdoor lighting all make your home look great. Some quick landscaping can make potential buyers feel more positive about your home before they even open the front door.

4. Have an Open Schedule

The more opportunity for people to come see your home, the more likely it will be sold.

You should try to have a very flexible, open viewing schedule. Weekends are absolutely key. It’s when most people will want to view homes, so make sure you are completely available.

It may be frustrating to have to organize your schedule around viewings but remember: if you sell your home fast, it won’t be a problem for long.

5. Price Your Home Competitively

Pricing a house too high will turn off many potential buyers. If they think it is out of their budget range, they won’t bother coming for a viewing.

A house with an attractive price, on the other hand, brings in more viewings. And when you’ve used the above tips to stage your house, buyers who have fallen in love with your home will submit competing offers.

Find an agent who can market a competitive price without dropping too low. You still want to sell your home for as much as possible!

Bringing It All Together

These five tips are key to selling your home fast. An open viewing schedule and competitive pricing will entice buyers. Clearing clutter, cleanliness, and a well-staged home will make them fall in love.

With the right agent and the right attitude, you can start getting ready to sell your home fast, today!

There are many components that go into running a successful healthcare organization. From hiring medical staff to keeping the offices clean, each aspect of the practice needs careful tracking and management.

No matter the size of the organization, keeping track of revenue is paramount to making the organization successful. It doesn’t matter if the business is a multi-state hospital or a one-doctor practice.

Keep reading to learn more about revenue cycle management and why it’s important.

What Is Revenue Cycle Management, Exactly?

Revenue cycle management (RCM) in healthcare is the set of activities that tracks revenue activities. This includes billing, collecting payments, and claims processing.

A well thought-out RCM system simplifies the process for doctors and staff. RCM systems can also communicate with electronic medical record software (EMR). This closes the gap between the business and medical sides of the practice.

What Are Current Problems With Billing in Medical Practices?

The main problem with revenue management in medical practices is human error.

Often, there is a lack of communication between administrative and medical staff about what has been recorded. This leads to long lag times in entering information and submitting claims.

Administrative staffers often don’t receive proper training on how to manage the revenue cycle. Most revenue activities occur in a waterfall manner. If one person does something wrong, the next person cannot complete his or her task.

Why Is RCM So Important?

Medical offices need to keep meticulous records. Patient visits, claims filing, and full accounting records for tax purposes must all be kept.

The most important reason a healthcare organization needs an RCM system is to follow up on filed and denied claims. In 2015, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that 10% of claims are denied. Of that 10%, 2% were from incomplete forms and 0.11% were from incorrect codes.

To put that into perspective, the CMS receives 4.6 million submitted claims each day.

Those denied claims are a huge drain on a practice’s money and time. An administrative staffer must find each mistake and resubmit each claim.

A revenue cycle management system can help minimize errors in claims filings. It can also help the administrative staff remember to follow up about re-submitted claims. These activities help put money back into the medical practice’s accounts.

An RCM can help with these other revenue-generating activities:

Reminding patients of their appointments (missed appointments = no revenue)

Automate administrative tasks

Help the billing department find inefficiencies and discrepancies in the accounts

Conclusion

Revenue cycle management is of the utmost importance to medical practices, no matter the size. Investing in an RCM can help a health care business save thousands of dollars each month.

Once you install an RCM, you’ll be amazed by how smoothly your practice’s billing and collections run.

If you’re sick of how your practice’s revenue is managed and don’t want to see more dollars fall through the cracks, invest in an RCM today!

Most often, it gets ignored! These days, most people will hit Google the first time they encounter a problem – even when it’s their health!

But that’s a good thing if you can take advantage of it. By offering digital manuals online, you extend the promotional reach of your company.

That’s why we’ve put together some points to consider for creating an effective digital manual.

Determine Your User

The single most important step in writing a successful manual is knowing your user is.

First, create a single sentence that defines who your user. This can be something as simple as “Users of Plantronics Headsets“. This short scope will keep you focused on answering your users’ questions.

Without thinking about your user in advance, you risk drifting off-topic. You may find yourself answering questions outside the scope of your intended purpose.

Create a Logical Outline

Knowing your user should help you create your structure.

Without a logical outline, you’ll just be winging the content. Your guide won’t have any rational flow. A good user guide works step-by-step, beginning to end.

Build a general contents page first. Write down all of the topics you want to cover in your manual. Then rearrange these topics into their most logical pattern. You may find yourself having to shift a section as you write the manual, but creating an outline at the start will give you a structure to work from.

Make It Visual

There’s nothing more boring than a manual without images. And what’s more, images will help your users understand the content!

Words without a visual guide can be hard to follow, so consider using the right images to highlight key points and hold your users’ attention. With a digital manual, you can offer full-color images and even links to videos! It’s a lot harder to do this with a traditional manual, and that’s one reason digital downloads are outpacing physical media.

Diagrams, step-by-step images, and tables are all great ways to present your information visually.

Make It Easy to Access

If you’ve gone through all the trouble of creating a manual, you want your users to see it. If users can’t find your manual, you’ve wasted your time creating it.

Especially in an age of short attention spans, where you display something is as important as what it contains. Make your user manual very easy to find. Link it from the product page, or even your main page if appropriate. Make sure the link includes the word “manual” and the name of the product.

This kind of forethought not only helps your users, but it builds their confidence in you. Making this information easy to obtain gives your users a positive attitude toward your company. How many times have you been frustrated by trying to find something on a website? That feeling translates into frustration with your company itself.

Create a Digital Manual Now

As you can see, creating a digital manual doesn’t have to be complicated. By keeping these points in mind, you could create one easily and improve your promotional reach.

And it’s not just replacing one vice with another. Vaping does not carry the same negative effects that smoking does. From overall health to taste to style, we’ll show you why vaping is leaving cigarette smoking in the dust — or should we say cloud?

Vaping is Safer

The health benefits are the most important reason that people leave behind cigarettes for vaping.

More and more studies are showing that vaping is not nearly as bad for you as smoking cigarettes is.

With vaping, you still get the same nicotine hit and throat feel — without the extra negatives that come with smoking cigarettes. Namely, they don’t contain tar, carbon monoxide, and many other cancer-causing chemicals present in cigarettes.

And while nicotine still isn’t good for you, it is much safer to inhale without the extra toxins.

Plus, it is more effective at helping people quit smoking than nicotine patches or going cold turkey. This is because it also feels like smoking.

It is more satisfying than a nicotine patch because you still get the feeling without the health dangers. Quitting smoking is hard enough, and having a vape can make it much easier.

Vaping Tastes Better

While health may be the most important reason people switch from cigarettes to vaping, it’s not the only one!

Vaping just plain tastes better. There are way more flavor options than you can get with traditional cigarettes. Plus, unlike flavored tobaccos, they actually taste good!

So you can get the satisfaction of smoking with candy-like flavor with a fruity e juice.

If fruity flavors aren’t your style, there are e juices for everything from minty to savory. There’s even tobacco-flavored e juice. That’s a perfect substitute if you find yourself missing the cigarette flavor.

Vaping is Cheaper

On top of being safer and better-tasting, switching to vaping saves you money.

The juices tend to be much cheaper than a pack of cigarettes with the same amount of nicotine.

If someone spends $1000 a year on cigarettes, for example, they would save $400 per year by switching to vaping. Year after year, that adds up to a lot of dough!

Wrapping Up

There’s a reason cigarette sales are going up in smoke!

Vaping has many benefits that make switching a no-brainer.

The fact that it is better for your health and reduces your exposure to cancer-causing chemicals should be enough of a reason to switch. The many delicious flavor options and the savings are the cherry on top.

If you’re ready to take control of your health and wallet, trade in your cigarettes for a vape today!

Want to ensure a different fate for your company? We’ve got you covered. Here are four actionable business finance solutions to utilize.

1. Budget, Budget, Budget

It doesn’t matter the size of your company. It doesn’t matter how much money you have coming in: budgeting is key.

Each week or month, sit down with a few employees for an hour or so. Discuss the amount of revenue coming in. Is this your goal income or could you be doing better?

Next, draw up your budget. Make sure to account for surprise expenses which could crop up at the last second.

Revenue can fluctuate from week to week or month to month. For that reason, it’s important your budget is flexible. You might have to tighten your spending for a period and then loosen it once more revenue comes in.

2. Use Merchant Services (and Other Tools!)

Merchant services and other tools can make your life easier. After all, your job responsibilities likely involve more than planning finances from day to day.

Merchant Connect is one such service you can use for your business financial planning.

Their services include travel agency and medical claims processing, virtual merchants, terminals and card readers, point-of-sale (POS), accounting software, and so much more.

Tools can combine processes, digitally manage your finances, and do complicated math without human error. Consider one or several of these tools for your day-to-day work life.

3. Have a Plan

At the start of each quarter, you need to create a financial plan for the next several months.

With analytics and other financial software, you can review the past year and use it as a barometer for the year to come. By predicting trends both positive and negative, you can adequately prepare.

If revenue is less than expected, for instance, you’ll know what to do because you planned for it. You might have to reduce spending, roll out a new product, or change marketing tactics, for instance.

Even when revenue is better than expected, you still need to have a plan. This prevents you from overspending and having to pinch pennies later in the quarter.

4. Outsource If Need Be

Managing the company’s finances can be a lot of work, and it’s probably a job too massive for any one individual. This becomes truer the more employees your company has.

That’s why it may be best to outsource certain job responsibilities, such as bookkeeping and accounting.

Yes, hiring third parties does cost money. That said, you’ll recoup that money back over time. These finance professionals will prevent costly mistakes you yourself may have made.

For that reason alone, it’s worth considering hiring them.

Looking to manage your company’s business finance solutions? Want to use some of the handy tools we mentioned above? Check out Pligg.

This digital download marketplace is a great resource for finance professionals. You can download documents and eBooks sure to make managing your finances easier.

If so, you may want to consider investing in some new accessories for your vaporizer. The right accessories can make the experience more enjoyable and even help you better maintain your product.

Besides, using your vape in the same format over and over again can get a little boring.

Here are the 5 most essential accessories to ensure a better vaping experience:

Grinder

Having the finest grind possible will help you get the most out of your vaping experience. It is truly one of the best investments a regular smoker can make.

If you choose to grind by hand, pollen and other materials will easily get stuck to your fingers. This can reduce the potency of the herb.

However, when you use a grinder, the herbs are much more easy to conserve. You can pack them more tightly into your vape pen- meaning they’ll be exposed to less oxygen. Decreased exposure to oxygen means the herb will burn less before you inhale. The airflow will also be increased.

This means you have more control of how smoothly and quickly it burns.

Most grinders are either aluminum or plastic. They have two interlocking pieces that form a top chamber and a bottom chamber. When you twist the two pieces, they move opposite one another. It is this motion that slices and grinds up the dry herb inside.

You will need to clean your grinder every so often to prevent it from getting clogged.

Vape Case

If you’ve spent a lot of money on your vaporizer, you’re probably going to want to take it out of the house with you from time to time.

But, you also don’t want to risk damaging it during transport. This is where a vape case comes in. With a case, you can take your vaporizer anywhere you want without worrying about damage. Plus, vape cases are great for storing all of your accessories in one place.

Cleaning Tools

With great vaping comes great responsibility.

If you want to get the most out of your vaping sessions, you need to make sure you are cleaning your vaporizer on a regular basis. There are many cleaning kits on the market that come with all the right tools to keep your vape as clean as a whistle.

Clearomizer

Every oil vaporizer comes with two main components: the batteries and the atomizer. The atomizer is what turns the liquid oil into vapor.

You have two options for delivering the liquid to the atomizer: with a clearomizer or a cartomizer.

We suggest a clearomizer because its transparency allows you to see your liquid at all times and refill it before it gets too low. This way, you won’t wind up with that awful burning smell that happens when you vape for too long.

A clearomizer, such as the Aspire Triton, also helps you the get clean, natural flavors of the liquid better than the cartomizer.

Visiting San Diego California is a great couple or family trip to take. It offers authentic Mexican cuisine mixed with SoCal’s laid back vibes. The views of the sea are beautiful and every street has historical significance.

Don’t take our word for it though. Those interested in visiting should take a look at these San Diego videos. They show the beauty of the city and its versatility. Take a helicopter time-lapse ride or learn what landmarks are a must see.

Experience a taste of San Diego magic below.

San Diego Videos

Flyover Fun

This helicopter footage gives us a beautiful look at a day in the life of San Diego. Learn what to do in San Diego today by watching the coast panning shots. Zoom in on famous landmarks and watch the sun set over the US Mexican coastline.

Keep an eye out for quaint surfer set ups on the beach, the beautiful San Diego baseball stadium, and see all the way to Mexico. Everything in this video is a breathtaking example of this California SoCal town.

Expert Explorers

In under six minutes, this video teaches the most important things about San Diego. Learn what neighborhoods have historic value and which views are the best. The tuna capital of the world is where California was considered to have first started.

Other features include the National treasures on Navy Pier, including the longest working warship. Pose with your sweetheart next to the kissing sailor statue. There are so many things to do in San Diego, plan enough time to see them all!

San Diego Best Eats

Traveling to a new place isn’t worthwhile unless one tastes the local cuisine. There are so many San Diego videos on food to choose from, but our pick has a great selection.

The best way to experience San Diego food is to eat a lot and often. Rent a bike and pedal along the Pacific ocean to burn off any California burrito calories. Once lunch is worked off, pedal to your next culinary destination.

Don’t miss out on the unique blend of Mexican spices and California surfer culture. Choices range from high scale seafood restaurants and taco shops to food carts. The San Diego culinary world is at your guacamole covered fingertips.

San Diego Zoo Tips and Tricks

The San Diego Zoo is one of the best in the world and this video shows why. They concentrate on natural habitats for their animals along with preservation of species. The zoo is so large, that you have to take a bus to get around it.

When you’ve seen all there is to see, you can take the sky ride back to the entrance. Cruising over the animals with a view of the San Diego skyline will be the perfect ending to an awesome day.

Nightlife

Those looking for something to do after a beautiful California sunset won’t be disappointed. San Diego’s Gaslight district has after dark activities for everyone. Need proof? Check out this video.

Stingaree is an award winning club, perfect for anyone wanting to dance the night away. Those looking for something more mellow can relax on a rooftop bar and chat under the stars. From wine bars to unique cocktails, there’s something for every type of night owl in San Diego

The Best Time to Visit

August and September are San Diego’s top tourist months, so avoid booking a flight then. Once crisp and mild October comes around, hotel prices drop and crowds disperse. In reality, any time is a great time to visit this beautiful California town.

If you’re in business, creating a new website or overhauling the one you have is essential, right? It is, if you understand how it can also have a negative effect on your SEO.

That might sound crazy, but it’s true. The problem is many business owners don’t get that, and then wonder why their ranking has dropped. The fact is, solid web development and design play a crucial role in business success.

It’s a fact that web design elements affect customers’ perception of your business. 94% said they even caused them to mistrust a website.

Web Development and Design: How’s Your UX?

Major changes have taken place in web development and design over the last decade. And whilst your website still needs to look good, there are far more important issues to consider.

The two most important are User Experience and Search Engine Optimization. Of course, you want to drive people to your shop front or online store, but this is how you do it.

User Experience or UX is critical to your ranking success. Google uses UX as a ranking signal, so you have to get it right. UX encompasses everything from usability and content to payment gateways.

Responsive Web Design

Topping the list of UX essentials is RWD or Responsive Web Design. That’s what you need for your new website to rank higher.

A responsive website must be fast to load and easy to navigate. It must also be adaptable to whatever device users view it on. In other words, it needs to be mobile friendly.

Websites that are not mobile friendly will see a drop in their ranking. This is especially true since Google boosted its mobile friendly algorithm last year.

Google Loves Backlinking

Another way to boost your search engine ranking is backlinking. This is where another site links to yours. In other words, others sites are ‘recommending’ yours. Google loves this and will use it to rank your site.

Effective internal linking will also impact your SEO strategy. This is likely to need professional input – something you can get from PC Repair CT.

It’s All About Speed

A common mistake made when overhauling a website is using oversized images and files. Huge pictures may look amazing, but they could be damaging your SEO ranking.

The reason being, your pages will take longer to load, diminishing the UX. As Google says, faster sites create happy users! And around half of your visitors will leave if a page takes longer than 3 seconds to load.

A good web development and design team have plenty of tricks to entertain your users AND boost your ranking. A video is a great online tool and will help promote your brand.

Give Popups The Flick

While we’re on the subject of happy users, avoid using too many pop-ups on your site. It’s a common mistake to add pop-ups when designing a site. You may think it adds visual interest.

What it actually does is annoy most of your users! They start reading a great article on your site and boom, here comes a pop-up! Avoid the temptation.

Effective Keyword Use

Ensure your new website incorporates product pages. To achieve a clean, modern feel, many designers drop product pages from the site or list all products on one page.

The most effective SEO strategy uses one product and keyword per page. Proper keyword placement will improve your rankings. And better rankings means more business.

The smallest design or development change can have a major effect on your ranking. For this reason, it’s usually a job for a professional web development and design team.

The world of technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, transforming the way we do business.

Technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence are shaping today’s business technology landscape.

Which of these business technology solutions are worth paying attention to? Here are some of our top picks for 2017.

The Growth of Virtual Reality

Both augmented reality (such as 2016’s insanely popular mobile game Pokemon Go) and virtual reality have taken off this year. At theme parks, thrill-seekers can strap on VR devices to enhance their ride. Gamers can also explore fictional worlds thanks to VR.

In business, VR has its place as well. VR devices can be used as a training tool, giving new hires realistic on-the-job experience.

You can also use VR to introduce new products, creating a type of digital demo. Customers could strap on a headset and try out a digital version of your product before it hits stores.

Drone Devices Become More Prevalent

“Drone” is already a common word in the average consumer’s vernacular. Many consumers may have bought the commercialized version of these flying robots, which can connect to a smartphone and fly.

While that’s fun, drones are handy in business technology, too. These can be used to deliver products right to a customer’s door, ala Amazon and even pizza chain Domino’s.

Working from Home Expands to More Job Sectors

It used to be that mostly freelancers had the luxury of working from home. Today, more and more employees in all sorts of fields can now do their job when away from the office.

With the breadth of tech tools that exist, such as video chat, live document editing, and project documentation, it’s no wonder more employers now trust their employees to get the job done from anywhere.

AI Expands Communication Options

When you think of artificial intelligence, your mind likely first goes to robots. That’s fair, but AI is about more than just that.

In business, AI can save time on jobs that busy employees don’t always have time for.

For instance: the chatbot. These bots are a lot smarter than they were in years past.

A customer that has a few questions may go on your website and use your chat function. With today’s AI, they can speak to a bot and never know it.

These bots are a win-win. The customer gets the information they need quickly and efficiently. Employees have time to take care of other work.

If you need yet more communications options for your office, try a voicemail service like American Voice Mail Inc.

It used to be that if you wanted to do live streaming, you had to sign up for a service dedicated solely to streams.

These days, you can use many platforms, even social media like Facebook, for live streaming. You just hit the button and you’re rolling.

How can live streaming benefit your company?

The main benefit is inclusion. Say you’re hosting a product launch and all your customers can’t make it there physically. You can live stream the launch so everyone can see what your company is up to.

Need more programs and apps to follow some of the above-mentioned business technology solutions? Check out Pligg, the digital download marketplace. From code to software and music to eBooks, find what you need here.

So, you love to write and you think it is time to capitalize on those skills. But you don’t feel fully confident with your blogging ability and don’t really know where to start to fix that.

You’ve come to the right place! There are plenty of blogging tools out there to enhance your experience as a first-time or rookie blogger.

Keep reading for six of our favorite blogging tools.

Portent’s Title Maker

Let’s start at the very beginning: your title.

What is it that you are writing about? What’s your subject?

Portent Title Maker is an awesome blogging tool which takes your subject and uses it to generate catchy titles that make the reader want to click.

The tool even gives a breakdown of why it generated the response that it did.

Aren’t pleased with the turnout? Keep refreshing until you find a title that you feel is the perfect fit for your piece.

Evernote

Time to get your thoughts organized.

So you have a topic and you’ve generated a title. It is time to dump all those ideas swirling around in your head into one place.

You can put anything and everything you may need to create your content into this blogging tool: websites, photos, notes, snippets, the list goes on and on.

Keyword Planner

Now it’s time to talk about your reach.

You want your content to reach as many people as possible, right? The Keyword Planner blogging tool is going to help you do just that.

Powered by Google, Keyword Planner lets you enter a variety of keywords and will return results summarizing the search volume of your keyword and the popularity of the topic.

This is an essential blogging tool for you to use prior to writing. Where SEO is concerned, you want to be using a keyword that is highly searched already (but easy to rank for) so you know that your content will be seen.

Toggl

Let’s get writing, shall we?

We all have days where we can’t seem to stay focused on a single task. When you have loads of brainstorming, writing, and editing to get done on a given day Toggl will be your best friend of the blogging tool world.

Toggl is a time tracking tool that allows you add different tasks you are working on and start the timer. It is helpful when you are looking to compare how much time you spend on specific tasks like brainstorming, writing, or editing so that you can better plan your work time.

Hemingway

Once you have completed your piece it is time to use the Hemingway App. This app will scan your content for readability and highlights sentences that are confusing or don’t read well.

This blogging tool can cut your editing time in half!

Canva

Now that you’ve written your blog, you will want to add some visuals to catch the eye of your reader.

Canva can help you take your photos to the next level. It is user-friendly and perfect for those who don’t have a ton of design experience.

Put These Blogging Tools to the Test

Now that you have our tips, get out there and get creative! These are our favorites tips but there are tons more out there. Don’t forget to check out our blog!